Antirattle dovetail for doors



July 5, 1932. R. G. MOORE ET AL NTIRATTLE DOVETAIL FOR DOORS Filed July 50, 1930 IN VEN TOR' mms '94g v ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1932 f UNITED-'STATES PATENT y OFFICE 1 RAYMOND G.'1vrooRE 'AND ARTHUR oLAUD-MANTLE, oF BRIDGEPORR coNNEoTiGUT, As'- sIGNoRs To' THE VRAssIcK COMPANY, or BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A ooRPoRA- TION OF CONNECTICUT ANTIRATTLR DovETAiL FOR DooRs Application led July 30, 1930. /Serial No.y 471,695.

rlvhe present invention relates to improvements inself-adjusting anti-rattle dovetails, particularly for: automobile doors, an object being to provide a device of this character which willpreventthe rattle usuallyresult- Y spective dovetail members being supported against vertical movement. Another object is to provide such a device which will compensate for wear and also for variations in the vertical and lateral alignment of the door.

Another object is to provide a device which whileholding the door against vertical vibrations will exert an outward' force on the same in such manner that the latch of the door is J l held irmly against the striker plate andupon release of the latch will press'the door open.

VA further obj ect is to provide a device constructed of few parts which may be assembled with facility, and which will be reliable and Y ePcient in operation.

A still further object-is to provide aV device in which the 'dovetail members willbe pro-y tected from excessive wear and breakage,

. and may bemade of a self-lubricating substance,' such as fibre, bakelite or the like, to the end 'thatthe device will have a long life,

and th-e necessity will be eliminated.

With the above and other objects iny view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with for lubricating the same reference thereto, andl the invention willV be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Y member.

F ig.` 1 is a perspective view of the outer side of the dovetail socket, according to the present embodiment of the invention, andV which is shownemounted on the door frame.v

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the end of the door showing the wedgemember mount-Y ed thereon, the door being shown in dotted lines, while the wedge member is shown in full lines. Y

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of theA wedge i F 4 is an edge viewthereof.

Fig. 5 is a liront elevationof the socket member. Y 'Y Fig. 6 is a similar view and showing the wedge member in cross section engaged therein.y

Fg- 7 member. e

Fig. Sis a sectional view line 8- 8 of Fig. 5. e,

- 9 is a sectional view, takenalong the line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

is a rearrelevation of the "socket Fig. 1() is a plan view of the'inner n iernber of the casing. e

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the block members employed. v

Similarr referencev characters indicate colfresponding parts throughout theseveral iig- Y ures of the drawing. Y

Referring to the drawing, the device, according to the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a socket member adapted to be secured to the door frame 10 within a suitable cut-'out recess, and a wedged member adapted to be secured to the edge `of the door 11y in relation to enter the socket member upon closing of the door.

The Ycasing of the socket member comprises an outer part consisting of a face plate me1n` ber 12 preferablyY formed of sheet metal, havf ing a lflange 13 at its forwardedge bent' 1n,- wardly ata right angle, and a lip 14; bent or, Wardly from the flange 13. A rearwardly converging opening 15 is provided in the face plateand extendsr across the flange 13 tothe lip 14, the forward portion 'of the opening having its upper andlovver edges d1sposed 1n parallel relation. An inwardly bent vrlm ,flange 16 is formed at the upper and lower aken airigihe" and rear edges of the face plate, and screw holes 17 having counter-sink flanges 18 are provided near the upper and lower edges.

The inner or boX part of the casing formed from sheet metal and, as shown in Fig. 10, comprises a rectangular portion 19 having Wall flanges 20, bent from its upper and lower and rear edges, and outwardly extend-A tersink flanges 18 corresponds to the metal thickness of the base flanges 21, so that in the assembled relation a solid double-thickness reinforced face plate structure is provided. The box portion 19 is flush with the l1' p 111.

A pair of inwardly bent lugs 24 are struck from the rear wall flange of the casing for supporting the ends of the springs, presently to be more fully referred to.

A pair of opposed block members 25 of generally rectangular shape are disposed within the casing, these blocks having flat parallel surfaces 26 adjacent the inner ends in sliding engagement with each other, and cooperating with the upper and lower parallel walls of the casing to prevent vertical displacement ofr the blocks. Inclined slightly arcuate faces 27 extend from the flat faces 26 to the forward ends of the blocks in diverging relation to each other. Pockets 28 are provided in the rear Walls of the blocks within which are engaged coil springs 29 positioned upon the lugs 24 of the casing, and which press thel blocks forwardly against the flange 13, as shown in Fig. 5, while permitting the blocks to be forced laterally inwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. In both positions the inclined faces 27 are projected into the opening 15.

The blocks are preferably assembled within the casing through the opening 15, this being done conveniently by first inserting one of the; blocks and its spring, and then insert-y ing the other block and its spring, pressing the first block inwardly while the second block is being inserted. The blocks may be of any suitable material, and because of the protection against breakage afforded by the casing, may be of fibre, bakelite, or other suitable squeak preventing, self-lubricating material.

e The wedge member comprises an attaching base 30 having Screw holes 31, and arigid projecting wedge-shaped projection 32, having flat inclined sides 33, substantially correspending to the inclination of the dovetail blocks.

The slightly arcuate shape of the inclined surfaces of the blocks permits firm engagement of the wedge member irrespective of slight variations in the vertical alignment of the door. Obviously this arrangement may be reversed, if desired, and the inclined surfaces of the wedge member made slightly arcuate, the inclined surfaces of the blocks being` flat. p

The operation is as follows VVhen-the door is in open position the blocks are projected forwardly against the flange 13 of the casing as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. As the door is closed the wedge member engages between the blocks, contacting therewith before the door is completely closed, the complete closure of the door causing the blocks to be moved laterally against the pressure of the springs, which hold the blocks snugly against the wedge member, while the inclination of the engagingV surfa ccs is such that vertical pressure will not displace the blocks and cause vibration.

The door is provided with the usual latch not shown, which engages behind a striker on the door frame, and the present device is such that it permits the door to close sufficiently to allow the latch to operate, and thereupon exerts an outward pressure on the door to force the latch bolt tightly against the striker. Upon release of the latch the device exerts an opening pressure on the door.

Should the wedge member be out of alignment with the socket, due to sagging of the door or inaccurate mounting of the wedge member, thev independent lmovement of the respective blocks will permit them to adjust themselves to the wedge surfaces and perform their cooperative retaining function.

While we have shown the socket member on the door frame and the wedge member on the door, it will be obvious that this arrangement may be reversed, if desired.

We have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising a casing having upper and lower confining walls, opposed wedge engaginfr elements conned between said walls and adapted to have sliding movement parallel to said walls, one of said elements slidably supporting the. other, and said elements adapted to be moved laterally through engagement of said wedge member therebetween.

2. In an anti-rattle device Vfor doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising a casing having upper and lower parallel confining walls,`opposed wedge engaging elements confined'between said walls and adapted to have sliding movement parallel to said walls, one of said elements slidably supporting the other, and said elements adapted to be moved laterally through engagement of said wedge member therebetween.

3. In an antirattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising a casing having upper and lower confining walls, laterally movable opposed wedge engaging elements confined between said walls, each having a portion adapted to engage the other to support it in relation to one of said walls and an inclined surface diverging with respect to the inclined surface of the other, and said elements adapted to be moved laterally through-engagement. of said wedge member between said diverging surfaces.

4. In an anti-rattle device for doors, a socket member, and a wedge member having inclined converging surfaces adapted to be engaged therewith, said socket member comprising a casing having upper and lower parallel confining walls, laterally movable opposed wedge engaging elements confined between said walls and having inclined diverging surfaces adapted to be engaged by the inclined converging surfaces of the wedge member and to be moved laterally thereby, said inclined surfaces of one of the members being convexly curved with respect to the n inclined surfaces of the other whereby there is substantial line contact between them.

Signed at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 11th day of July, 1930.

RAYMOND G. MOORE. ARTHUR OLAUD-MANTLE. 

